Catching Up With The Iron Man

That's changing. Mr. Ripken is scheduled to eclipse one of Mr. Gehrig's records today when he plays his 2,131st consecutive game. The great Yankee iron man's feat of endurance was unreachable until Mr. Ripken came along.

At a time when baseball is still recovering from a strike, a lost season and fan discontent, Mr. Ripken is one of the game's few authentic heroes -- and advertisers are flocking to feature the new record-holder.

So far he's agreed to endorse a cold cereal and a pickup truck, but has declined to endorse a brand of shorts. ``I couldn't see myself modeling underwear,'' he said.

An old-fashioned kind of guy, Mr. Ripken: Comes to work even when he's not feeling quite up to par, and keeps his clothes on in public. He deserves this moment in the spotlight.